assist

[uh-sist]

verb (used with object)

1. to give support or aid to; help.

   Please assist him in moving the furniture.

   Synonyms: promote, back, befriend, abet, sustain
   Antonyms: frustrate, hinder

2. to be associated with as an assistant or helper.

verb (used without object)

1. to give aid or help.

2. to be present, as at a meeting or ceremony.

noun

1. Sports.

   1. Baseball.,  a play that helps to put out a batter or base runner.

   2. Basketball, Ice Hockey.,  a play that helps a teammate in gaining a goal.

   3. the official credit scored for such plays.

2. a helpful act.

   She finished her homework without an assist from her father.

3. Machinery.,  an electrical, hydraulic, or mechanical means of increasing power, efficiency, or ease of use.

   a luxury automobile equipped with assists for brakes, steering, windows, and seat adjustment.

assist

/ əˈsɪst /

verb

1. to give help or support to (a person, cause, etc); aid

2. to work or act as an assistant or subordinate to (another)

3. ice hockey to help (a team-mate) to score, as by passing the puck

4. archaic,  to be present; attend

noun

1. the act of helping; aid; assistance

2. baseball the act of a player who throws or deflects a batted ball in such a way that a team is enabled to put out an opponent

3. sport

   1. a pass or other action by a player which enables another player to score a goal

   2. a credit given for such an action

Other Word Forms

• assister noun
• assistive adjective
• nonassister noun
• overassist verb
• reassist verb (used with object)
• unassisted adjective
• unassisting adjective
• well-assisted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of assist¹

First recorded in 1505–15; from Latin assistere “to stand by, help,” from as- as- ( def. ) + sistere “to cause to stand, stop,” derivative of stāre “to stand” ( stand ( def. ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of assist¹

C15: from French assister to be present, from Latin assistere to stand by, from sistere to cause to stand, from stāre to stand

Synonym Study

See help.

Example Sentences

Nicknamed 'The Kid' by her team-mates, she has been directly involved in more tries than any other player at the World Cup so far, scoring four tries and assisting another three.

From BBC

She currently leads the team with four assists and scored her first professional goal last May, on an assist from her sister, making it the first sister-to-sister goal in league history.

From Los Angeles Times

The Ecuadorian and Mexican governments have not said they would assist with military strikes.

From BBC

These assist in humanizing figures other TV formats tend to flatten.

From Salon

"I would like to commend her for standing up to this abuse and assisting with our investigation," Mr Roberts added.

From BBC

Related Words

• aid 
• back 
• benefit 
• boost 
• cooperate 
• expedite 
• facilitate 
• reinforce 
• support 
• sustain 
• take care of